Wilfred Holden - Courtesy of Marion Holden (Wilfred's Niece)
Holden, Wilfred, Lance Corporal, 1811, Derbyshire Yeomanry Born Belper, Derbyshire Enlisted Derby Resided Belper Killed in action aged 31 Buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Turkey, I, F, 25 (Originally buried in the Azmac Dere Cemetery, Row 2, Grave 3) The Derbyshire Yeomanry War History 1914-1919
Sergeant Holden, one of our most popular N.C.O.'s, was killed by a shell whilst in the act of issuing rations to his men. Curious to say, though he was kneeling at the time, surrounded by men standing, not another man was touched.
This N.C.O. was buried close to where he fell, and as a rough cross was being placed over the grave the Turks fired a single round of shrapnel, which burst low, besprinkled the grave, but without touching the two officers and two N.C.O.'s who were standing at its side.
Wilfred Holden (marked with the cross) with his colleagues from the Derbyshire Yeomanry "taken after tea" 20th June 1915 - Courtesy of Marion Holden (Wilfred's niece).
1911 Census An assistant furniture manufacturer Son of William, a furniture manufacturer, and Mary Holden, of Chevin, Belper, Derbyshire
MOMENT ON CHOCOLATE HILL 6SEPTEMBER 1915
SUVLA Bay, A scene of peace And beauty Masking the stark Obscenities Of War. On Chocolate Hill Where bouts of ribald humour Deny grim truths The mind cannot endure; A sergeant Issues rations In the trenches. Sharing The hollow jokes That stifle fear, And sharing Silently The thoughts unspoken In each man's heart Of home and those held dear.
He would not hear The earth explode Beside him. That day in Suvla Bay On Chocolate Hill.
Marion Holden 2007 (Wilfred's niece)
Grave of Wilfred Holden, Green Hill Cemetery - Copyright Dave Arnold
Holden, Wilfred, Lance Corporal, 1811, Derbyshire Yeomanry
Born Belper, Derbyshire
Enlisted Derby
Resided Belper
Killed in action aged 31
Buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Turkey, I, F, 25
(Originally buried in the Azmac Dere Cemetery, Row 2, Grave 3)
The Derbyshire Yeomanry War History 1914-1919
Sergeant Holden, one of our most popular N.C.O.'s, was killed by a shell whilst in the act of issuing rations to his men. Curious to say, though he was kneeling at the time, surrounded by men standing, not another man was touched.
This N.C.O. was buried close to where he fell, and as a rough cross was being placed over the grave the Turks fired a single round of shrapnel, which burst low, besprinkled the grave, but without touching the two officers and two N.C.O.'s who were standing at its side.
1911 Census
An assistant furniture manufacturer
Son of William, a furniture manufacturer, and Mary Holden, of Chevin, Belper, Derbyshire
MOMENT ON CHOCOLATE HILL
6SEPTEMBER 1915
SUVLA Bay,
A scene of peace
And beauty
Masking the stark
Obscenities
Of War.
On Chocolate Hill
Where bouts of ribald humour
Deny grim truths
The mind cannot endure;
A sergeant
Issues rations
In the trenches.
Sharing
The hollow jokes
That stifle fear,
And sharing
Silently
The thoughts unspoken
In each man's heart
Of home and those held dear.
He would not hear
The earth explode
Beside him.
That day in Suvla Bay
On Chocolate Hill.
Marion Holden 2007
(Wilfred's niece)
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